Machine for grading tablets.



No.735,896. 'PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903;

J. M. 'MAUDOKALD.

MACHINE FOR GRADING TABLETS. APPLIOJLTION FILED APR. 1/1902.

no menu.

Patented August 4; 1903.

@PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. MACDONALD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

MACHINEFOR GRADING TABLETS.

sPEcrFIcATmmformin part of Letters Patent No. 735,396, dated August 4, 1903.

' Application filed April 1, 1902. sins No. 101.011. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: a c Be it known that I, JAMES M. MACDONALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Machines for Grading Tablets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in the novel construction of a tablet-grading machine and in the peculiar arrangement and combination of its various parts, as willbe hereinafter described,and shown in the drawings,-in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of mechanism embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a.

view in elevation of the upper portion of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section through the hopper and a portion of the grading-chute. Fig. 4 is a section on line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line to w of Fig. 1, illustrating the adjusting means for varying the size of the chute.

The grading-machine comprises,essentiall y, a grading-chute A, arranged in an inclined position, as hereinafter set forth, and provided at its upper end with ahopper 13, adapted tobe vibrated by suitable mechanism to dis charge its contents into the chute.

A suitable framework C is employed which is provided with an upright section D. The.

chute, as shown, is connected'to the framework, the upper end of thechute being supported upon the upright D, so that the ways E and F of the chute will form incline planes, 1 down which the tablets are adapted to travel. 1

The inclined ways referred to are spaced and adj ustably connected to each other by means of bolts G, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Ooilsprings H upon the bolts intermediate of the ways serve to retainthe latter in their spaced position, while suitable appliances, such as Wing-nuts I, engage the bolt ends and afford means for varyingthe distance between the way to accommodate the chute for difierent sizes of tablets. Afterthe properadj ustment is eifected the ways are locked by means of set-screws or bolts J,which are inserted in the under faces of the ways and bear against the bolts in the manner indicated.

' Each of the ways described is provided upon its inner face with a guide-plate, such as K, the upper edges L of which form the inclines upon which the tablet travels. These plates are secured to the ways by screw-bolts M,which are shown as extending through vertical slots 0 within the ways, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. By this manner of adjustment the space between the upper edges of the guide-plates and the chute-cover P may bevaried and the chute properly adjusted to receive tablets of different thickness.

The upper end of the chute, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, isrecessed, and within the recess is seated the hopper B. A bolt R forms a. pivotal connection between the upper end of the chute and a cross-piece S between the ways and permits of the hopper being oscillated or vibrated laterally. The end of the hopper adjacent to the chute is formed with inclined portions (1 and b, which lead and are adapted to convey the tablets to the dischargeopening a." This opening, as shown in Fig.

4, is of greater width than the feed-opening of the chute and is adapted to substantially register with the latter. A vertically-adj ust- "able gate T is connected to the lower end of --work, and a connection W engaging the eccentric atone end, as shown in Fig. 1, and having a hook at its opposite end extending within an eye in the form of an apertured ear X upon the hopper side. Motion being imparted to the shaft will cause the hopper to oscillate laterally and the tablets to be discharged therefrom within the grading-chute.

In operation a quantity of tablets of various sizes are placed within the hopper and the grading-chute adjusted to receive and convey the tablets of the largest diameter and thickness. Upon the oscillationof the hopper only one size will enter the grading-chute, while the others will drop between the spaced The grading-chute may then be adjusted for another size of tablet and the steps described repeated until the quantity of tablets have been properly separated.

The mechanism described is also convenient for use in separating broken tablets from a number of tablets of uniform size, the perfect tablet passing through the grading-chute, while the broken portions of the tablet will drop between the ways in the manner set forth.

While I have shown a particular arrangement of the parts and mechanism of a certain type for vibrating the hopper, I do not desire to be limited to this construction, as various modifications may be made without in any manner departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a tablet-grading machine, the combination of two spaced and inclined ways each provided upon its inner face with a guideplate, means for vertically adjusting said plates, ahopper mounted upon the upper ends of the ways for vibratory movemen t, and means for vibrating the hopper.

2. In a tablet-grading machine, the combination with a covered grading-chute, the ways thereof having the vertical slots 0 formed therein, of guide-plates upon theinner faces of the chute, bolts extending through the slots and engaging theguide-plates, a hopper in operative relationto the chute, and'means for oscillating the hopper.

3. In a tablet-grading machine, the combination with an inclined grading-chute having its upper end recessed, of a hopper seated Within the recessed portion of the chute and pivoted to the latter, the discharge-opening in the hopper registering with the chute, and means for laterally oscillating the hopper.

4. In a tablet-grading machine, the combination with an inclined grading-chute having a hopper-seat formed in its upper end, of a support for maintaining the chute in its inclined position, a hopper mounted within the seat and pivoted to the chute for transverse in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MACDONALD.

Witnesses: 7

L. J. WHITTEMORE, M. B. ODOGHERTY. 

